“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – Emily Dickinson Hope is a very powerful and positive emotion that many people rely on during their fight against brain cancer. The meaning of hope and the … Read more
Why are clinical trials randomized? Patients and families sometimes ask this question about the Phase 2/3 Toca 5 study. To better understand this challenging and often frustrating topic, I interviewed Asha Das, M.D., vice president of clinical development and medical affairs at Tocagen. She is also a board-certified neurologist and practiced medicine as a neuro-oncologist. … Read more
Clinical trials are necessary to advance potential new treatments and demonstrate effectiveness. For patients who decide to participate in a clinical trial, finding the right clinical trial for them can be challenging and there is a lot information to absorb. If you are receiving care at a hospital that has a dedicated brain tumor program, … Read more
With three children diagnosed with brain tumors in their 20’s, Catherine Stryker is a veteran caregiver and a remarkable woman. One daughter had an acoustic neuroma, Catherine’s son had an oligoastrocytoma that became a glioblastoma from which he died after a 17-year battle, and her other daughter has an anaplastic astrocytoma. In addition, Catherine works … Read more
I often encounter patients and their caregivers who are unaware that receiving Avastin too early in their treatment plan can actually disqualify them from participating in many clinical trials. This causes a lot of frustration for patients who want to participate in such trials but only learn about this issue after it’s too late. Improved … Read more
With so many things going on while battling a brain tumor, it’s challenging to pay attention to nutrition. To complicate things further, conventional treatments can cause some people to experience taste changes, which makes food choices and nutrition a moving target. I am commonly asked by survivors and their caregivers if diet can be helpful … Read more
In many studies describing the experience of high grade brain tumor survivors, fatigue is named as being one of the most debilitating factors that decreases quality of life. This condition is characterized by overwhelming tiredness that cannot be remedied by a good night’s sleep. People with fatigue report that they are unable to participate in … Read more
Over the last 30 years I have supported hundreds of patients and their caregivers in their fight against brain cancer. From this experience, three of the most important things patients and their caregivers can do is: Seek care at the most experienced institution near you that sees brain cancer patients every week. These are usually … Read more
Brain cancer is a devastating disease. Patients and their family and friends are shocked when they are diagnosed with brain cancer. Many people can describe the event or series of events that were the tell-tale signs leading up to their diagnosis and are often overwhelmed with the volume of information and adapting to their “new … Read more